Mystery: The Silver Key

Chapter 7 Deception

After a moment of silence, Cyril started a conversation based on her established persona:

"You've already come into contact with the true mystical world, but you don't seem to have become an extraordinary being yet. Are you preparing a potion?"

"How could you..." Owen looked at him in surprise, but quickly figured it out himself:

"That's true, you didn't seem very surprised at all from the beginning."

"So you've also come into contact with the true mystical world, and even become an extraordinary being, which is why you didn't perform the evil ritual that Virch shared?"

Cyril leaned back on the sofa and nodded slightly: "More or less, but not quite an Extraordinary yet."

Owen wasn't surprised: "That's normal. Potion ingredients are too expensive. If it weren't for the inheritance from my parents, I wouldn't be able to..."

After a pause, he suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Do you have the complete potion recipe?"

Cyril nodded, his tone tinged with regret: "Of course, but unfortunately it's not suitable for me."

I not only have the complete potion recipe, but I also possess a complete and extraordinary path, including the rules of role-playing. Unfortunately, I am guarding a treasure trove but cannot use it.

It's all Adam's fault for leaving too quickly back then, otherwise I could have applied to join the Twilight Hermits. He has a second tablet of blasphemy, although he might not have agreed.

...∑(°△°|||)︴

Realizing what had happened, Cyril's expression suddenly froze... I was careless again. Sorry, boss, please ignore me...

He then looked around uncomfortably. Although he didn't see anything, he had a feeling that there was a pair of eyes watching him from the corner, behind him, through the glass window, or from a place he couldn't see.

"What's wrong with you?"

Seeing Cyril's strange reaction, Owen subconsciously looked around as well, but didn't find anything odd in his house.

Xi Ruien smiled and shook his head: "It's nothing, just a bit of PTSD..."

Irving: "Huh?"

To prevent her mind from wandering off into inappropriate thoughts, Sirion quickly changed the subject:

"When did you first come into contact with the mystical world? How's the potion preparation going?"

Whether it was their recent experience that brought them closer, or whether the long period of solitude made Irving instinctively crave a partner he could confide in, after being asked by Cyril, he recounted his situation without any concealment:

"My initial understanding of the mysterious world came from my father's notes, which I discovered among his belongings after his death, but unfortunately there wasn't much information in them."

"It took me two whole years to learn more from the occult circles I came into contact with, and at the same time to purchase the extraordinary materials needed to concoct the 'Apprentice' potion, which was also left to me by my father."

"Hehe, let me tell you a secret, it's said that this path was once controlled by an ancient family from the Quaternary period, and it's definitely one of the most powerful of the 22 paths."

"Based on my knowledge of occultism, the spirit world and reality overlap most on the night of the full moon, which is also the time when spirituality is most abundant and most conducive to taking magic potions and achieving advancement."

"That means tomorrow, I will become a true extraordinary being."

Cyril stared silently at Owen, whose words gave him a strong sense of déjà vu, as if they were familiar.

Is this guy a character from the story? But I don't remember him at all.

Apprentice, full moon, ancient family, I think I'm remembering something... Could it be such a coincidence? The master key is still alive?

It's August 1349 now. Counting the time, it seems to match up, but... I don't believe there wasn't some arrangement involved, but this is exactly what I need.

Irving shifted his body slightly; Cyril's gaze made him somewhat uncomfortable.

Just as he was about to remind the other person that such a gaze was impolite, Sirion suddenly looked away and said seriously:

"Have you considered taking the potion through a different method, or at a different time?"

"Why?" Owen asked in surprise, then explained to himself:

"The 'Apprentice' path is passed down from my family... by my father. It has a relatively complete potion recipe and accumulated knowledge. Choosing this path will make it much easier for me to advance further."

"Moreover, the full moon is the most auspicious time for promotion; I've had it done by divination."

Mr. Door is still whispering under the full moon. What room for advancement do you have? You might as well try a different path. Maybe that way your murmurs under the full moon will be quieter.

He muttered something to himself, and his gaze toward Irving gradually became serious and earnest.

He decided to fool the other party, which would not only save a hapless guy who committed suicide during the full moon, but also allow him to obtain the "Apprentice" pathway potion recipe he needed.

More importantly, he currently has only £10, 13 soula and 2 pence in savings, which is the living expenses he has worked hard to save during his time at Backlund University, since he has no inheritance from his parents.

With this little money, he couldn't possibly become an extraordinary person, so he could only play the role of a con artist and swindle some initial funds from his classmate Owen.

No matter what, I saved their life, so what's wrong with taking a little money?

Seeing the bewildered and wary look in Irving's eyes, his expression grew increasingly serious and earnest, until panic appeared on the other's face. Only then did he chuckle and speak:

"There aren't many forces that have mastered the 'Apprentice' pathway. There are only four well-known organizations across the entire North and South Continents. Among them, the Aurora Society, the Gnostic Society, and the Tamara Family can only be considered to have mastered a portion of the 'Apprentice' pathway."

"The family of Abraham, one of the great noble families of the Tudor Empire in the Fourth Age, truly mastered the characteristics and formula of the 'Apprentice' path."

"Even among the many angelic families of the Fourth Age, the Abraham family was the most prestigious noble family, without exception."

Irving subtly tilted his head back, a look of pride on his face.

"I know this part of history. Don't forget I'm a history major too."

Although he often skipped classes, it was to explore the mysterious world and get involved in the circles of those extraordinary individuals.

Cyril chuckled softly, raising an eyebrow as he asked, "So, you don't deny your connection to the Abraham family?"

Irving, who had just been looking up with an air of pride, was instantly doused with cold water and froze on the spot:

"Well, maybe. It's been over a thousand years since the Fourth Epoch, so it's normal for some potion recipes to have been leaked out."

"Although sometimes I wish I were a descendant of such an ancient family, shouldering a sacred mission and making a name for myself, the truth is that I have been in Backlund since my ancestors' time, and my surname is Garcia."

Cyril glanced at him expressionlessly: "You've gone a bit too far with your explanation. Besides, I remember the last time I saw your father, he told me that he left his hometown to work hard in Backlund for a better life."

"..."

Irving's expression stiffened again, and he forced a dry laugh, trying to brush it off: "You have a pretty good memory... that happened several years ago."

Cyril nodded slightly: "It's alright, after all, we weren't that unfamiliar with each other back then."

"Don't be so nervous. They're just descendants of the Abraham family. To use your words, thousands of years have passed since the Quaternary period. Who hasn't had a successful ancestor?"

After a pause, and seeing that Irving's expression had softened somewhat, he asked again:

"Do you know about the Antigonus family and the Kingdom of Night?"

Owen nodded slightly: "Of course I know. Like the Abraham family, the Antigonus family is one of the great noble families of the Tudor Empire in the Fourth Age. In addition, there are the Ammon family, the Jacob family, and the Tamara family."

"As for the Kingdom of Night, it was an ancient country located in the Hornachis Mountains, which seems to have been destroyed in the middle and late Quaternary period."

Cyril nodded and said something that seemed completely unrelated: "You know, the name Cyril means 'quiet night' in my hometown."

"A quiet night?" Owen paused, somewhat taken aback.

A moment later, a look of shock suddenly appeared on his face: "It is said that the Kingdom of Night was founded by the patriarch of the Antigonus family and the 'Mother of the Sky'. They worship the night and tranquility and believe in the ancient 'Mother of the Sky'."

"Are you a descendant of the Antigonus family of the Night Kingdom?"